TRAFFIC / PUBLIC SAFETY–
According to a 2001 study by Texas A&M University, New York City is one of the
top 75 traffic congested cities in the United States – and it is getting
worse. Certainly, anyone who lives, works or just passes through midtown
Manhattan would have to agree. Carriage horses are out of place in midtown’s
congested streets and belong to another century when there were far fewer
vehicles and pedestrians. When hansom cabs are mixed with cars, taxis, busses,
pedestrians, bikes and emergency vehicles – fire trucks, ambulances and police
cars – they are a recipe for disaster. Hansom cabs traveling to and from the
Central Park area on 9th and 10th Avenue interfere with emergency vehicles
going to and from St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital and Roosevelt Hospital – and
the many vehicles going to the Lincoln Tunnel or the West Side Highway. Over
the years, there have been many accidents where both horses and people have
been seriously injured and some in which the horse died.
HUMANE CONDITIONS
– The average working life of a carriage horse on NYC streets is under four
years compared to a police horse whose working life is about 14 years. This
information was derived from extensive research going back to the 1980s by the
Carriage Horse Action Committee, which seized operations in 1994. On the
streets of NY, these horses are constantly nose-to-tailpipe and show
corresponding respiratory
impairment. Because they are not given adequate farrier care, lameness is often a problem, especially walking on pavement.
Horses must work in hot humid temperatures and in the brutal cold – nine hours
a day, seven days a week and go back to stuffy stable where they have no
opportunity for turnout. Many of the stables are firetraps with inadequate
sprinkler systems and fire protective devices. Many of the horse are filthy,
ungroomed and underfed. Because of their previous uses on the racetrack or on
Amish farms, many of the horses come into this industry with preexisting
injuries or arthritis and are forced to pull carriages containing heavy
tourists – upwards of 7-800 pounds. When these horses are no longer fit to
work the demanding streets of NYC, they are “retired” – many go to auction
where their fate is unknown. “Killer Buyers” often buy these horses by the
pound for the slaughterhouse. Horsemeat
is a delicacy in some European countries.
IMPOSSIBLE TO ADEQUATELY ENFORCE
– the ASPCA has 21 agents but they are obligated to work on cruelty issues all
over the city and sometimes the state of NY since they have jurisdictional
powers over the state. Through private donations, the ASPCA funds the Humane
Law Enforcement program. It is not funded by the City of NY. There are 68
carriages, over 200 horses and 360 drivers. There would
never be enough agents to ensure that the drivers are obeying the law; that
they are not traveling out of the area; that their horses do not have ill
fitting tact that causes sores; that they are not working when it is too hot,
too cold or under adverse weather conditions; that they do not over-load their
carriages; that they drive responsibly. The
laws governing carriage horses are
lengthy and complicated. Although the primary enforcement responsibility
falls to the ASPCA, the NYC Police Department, the Department of Health and
the Department of Consumer Affairs are also responsible. It is impossible to
adequately enforce them. Section 17-331 of the NYC Administrative Code - The
Rental Horse Licensing and Protection Law - calls for an Advisory Board that
would make recommendations to the DoH commissioner about regulations necessary
to promote the health, safety and well-being of the horses. It currently does
not exist.
IMMORAL INDUSTRY
– Many people feel that the NYC carriage horse is from another century, is
exploited for profit and forced to live and work a very grueling existence in
modern day NYC – all for profit and for a relatively few number of tourists.
At the end of their “career”, most are sold to auction and eventually end up
in the slaughterhouse. [See:
Horse Slaughter/Animal Cruelty] This form of “entertainment” is exploitative and is
comparable to animal circuses and roadside zoos. In the United States, over
the years other immoral institutions have ended regardless of the economic
impact to the industries involved. These include the use of child labor and
sweat shops.
ENVIRONMENT
– Besides the humane issue that compel many people to object to the carriage
horse trade, there is also the pervasive smell of horse feces and urine that
permeates Central Park South. Even when the horses are not on the hack line at
CPS, the unpleasant smell is always there. In addition, the Sanitation
Department has to clean the feces from the street. People who live on Central
Park South have complained about this smell for years. Those who object cannot
open their windows in nice weather. In one community close to the stable on
45th St., public school
children complained of health problems.
PROBLEM WITH ASPCA POSITION
– While we agree with most of the ASPCA statement on NYC Carriage Horses –
such as “carriage horses simply cannot co-exist with cars on the streets of
New York City – PERIOD; or “ ….legitimate businesses are also expected to
operate in a way that protects the safety of citizens, and in this case, the
horse as well” - we do not agree with restricting them to Central Park.
Because Central Park is a landmark, it is highly unlikely that horse stables
and turn out area will be built to accommodate the more than 200 horses so
these horses will travel to and from the stables on 9th and 10th Avenue. The
five stables are located on the West Side from 37th St. to 52nd St. In
addition, we believe that it is virtually impossible to regulate and enforce
yet more laws pertaining to these horses and that they will continue to be
treated badly.
FALSE ISSUES
TOURISM - –
NYC is one of the most desirable cities to visit in the world. Tourists come
here for the restaurants; the luxury hotels; the theater; night life; the
shopping; the statue of liberty; the empire state building; the excitement of
Times Square. If there were no carriage horses – it is preposterous to believe
that tourists would no longer visit New York City. The amount of taxes paid by
the drivers and stable owners cannot be large considering the size of the
industry – but it is offset by street cleanup; enforcement issues; and quality
of life issues. Besides it is not correct to assume that every out-of-towner
wants to take a carriage horse ride. Many do not and avoid the area of Central
Park South because the site of the horses is so painful.
NYC and Company is the official tourism web
site of NYC. Yet there is no mention of the carriage horse trade as being a
big tourist attraction on its web site. Instead it mentions, sports events,
shopping, restaurants, museums and galleries, historical attractions;
Broadway; nightlife and entertainment; sightseeing tours.
http://www.nycvisit.com/home/index.cfm
ECONOMICS/JOBS
– In recent years, many industries have outsourced jobs to China, India, and
other countries. From high tech jobs; legal; accounting, call centers;
manufacturing – almost every industry has been effected. People have been
forced to retrain for a new profession. While we recognize that it is not
pleasant to lose ones livelihood, at the same time, it is unethical for the
city of NY to be held hostage by the small, but politically connected carriage
horse industry – just to keep the status quo. Job retraining can be made
available to Individuals affected by a shut down of this industry.
Additionally, in NYC, it is not unusual for small businesses to be put out of
business by eminent domain; a refusal of building owners to renew leases or by
charging exorbitant rents. Businesses often have to fend for themselves.
